02 September 2011

The scoop
Seems Holden’s sick of SUVs and wants you to give wagons some attention, with this new, sleek-looking wagon designed to appeal to more than just tradies.

Combining luxury, sleekness and sportiness, Holden positions the Berlina Sportwagon in the “Comfort” segment for a nice $45,490.

The drive
The Berlina’s 3L V6 engine is fine and smooth when cruising but quite imbalanced and grating when you want to go harder. You’ll note a slight hesitation and clunky noise as it changes gears. The handling and steering, however, are pleasant and the Berlina performs well in stop-start traffic. Due to its sturdy body and low stance, the Berlina absorbs all bumps the road throws at you, especially as you go faster. The suspension is firm, particularly in the rear end, so the ride’s a little strained when the car’s fully loaded.

When a wagon is what you need, the rear seats can be folded virtually flat to provide you with a load floor. Otherwise, the Berlina can be used as a 5 seater, in which case there’s plenty of leg and head room as well as comfy cushions. For those on the lookout for a family car, keep in mind that the Berlina’s seats are low so the littlies may not be able to see out of the window.

What’s cool is the USB, iPod and Bluetooth are all integrated and controlled by the one screen. Scroll buttons on the wheel for the multi-function trip computer are great because your attention isn’t completely divided when using the system.

Safety
ANCAP is yet to crash-test the Berlina Sportwagon but standard safety features include 6 airbags, and Electronic Stability Control which incorporates brake and traction assist systems.

Green factor
The engine is flex-fuel compatible, which means you can run on E85, an environmentally friendly blend of 85% sustainable oil from crop waste and 15% petrol. The thing is, only 35 petrol stations across Australia offer E85. ‘A’ for effort though, Holden!

Describe the car in 3 words
Modern, reliable, sturdy.

Best thing about the car
The Berlina works just as well on-road as it does off-road and, with features such as dual-zone air conditioning, it can handle different conditions. Also, there are lots of luggage space and storage options.

Downsides about the car
The Berlina’s unrefined engine is noisy and nobody wants to pay for a spare wheel!

Soundtrack for this car
Green Day.